Inside the box, there are two simple yet absolutely enchanting silver earrings and a necklace with a shining ruby gem. The moment I see them, my head spins—a surge of emotions overwhelms me. Waves of sadness, traces of nostalgia, and flickers of hope wash over me in an inexplicable mix. I close the box with a snap and take deep breaths, my hands trembling slightly as I try to steady the rapid pace of my heart.
Right now, the room feels smaller, suffocating, the walls inching closer as the weight of forgotten memories presses down on me.
However, Eris notices my discomfort and sits down next to me, her presence a comforting anchor in the storm of my emotions.
"Felicia, are you okay? You look so pale…" she asks, her hands warm as they envelop mine.
Her touch snaps me back to reality.
"Oh, sorry! I'm… I'm just a bit overwhelmed," I reply, trying to mask the turmoil inside.
"Did anything come back to you? Any memories?"
"No, nothing…" I shake my head, exhale deeply.
Despite those intense emotions, there's nothing I can remember from seeing or touching those jewels.
It's very, very frustrating…
My heart is still aching even when the box is now closed.
"I see…" Eris murmurs, giving my hands a gentle squeeze. "But it's alright. Sometimes feelings are all we have to guide us. I believe you will regain your memories soon."
"Thank you… I hope so too…"
I then hand the box back to Eris, and she carefully places it into the chest along with the dress, locking away the beautiful yet perplexing artifacts of this mysterious catgirl.
"Well, even if you can't remember, I know for sure that you must be coming from a very prestigious family or something. Perhaps you are a young lady of a noble house? Or the daughter of a very wealthy merchant?" Eris muses as she secures the chest. .
Huh?
I blink, surprised by her suggestion.
"What makes you say that?"
"Come on, can't you see?" Eris smiles. "The dress alone was stunning. And the fabric! I've never seen anything quite so exquisite! Those jewelry are top craftsmanship too! Hmmm…. Now that I think about it…. isn't it only royalty who can wear those kinds of clothes? Felicia, could it be… you are a princess?"
"Oooooooh!" I gasp. "A princess… ! I see!!!"
Perhaps, it's the real identity of this catgirl body?
"Don't worry, I'll keep everything safe until your memories return, or until you want to take them." Eris assures me warmly.
"Ah… thank you," I reply.
Now that she mentioned it, if Eris harbored any ill intentions, she could have easily sold them for a hefty sum. But instead, she stored them away, protecting them for me. This act of kindness, in a world still so alien and uncertain, deeply touches my heart. Any lingering doubts about her intentions dissipate like mist under the morning sun.
"Eris…" I begin, hesitating as I broach a new topic. "I have a question. C-can I stay with you? For a few days at least? Right now I… I don't know where else to go… I need some time to figure out what to do…"
"Oh, of course!" Eris exclaims. "You can stay however long you need! As long as… you are fine with this tiny room of mine… hehe…"
"No, I don't have any problem with that," I heave a sigh of relief. "But is it really okay? I… I don't want to burden you too much…" I murmur, my gaze falling to our intertwined hands.
"Hey, what are you talking about?" Eris laughs. "I don't have much on me, but at least I have a heart! I simply can't let a young, beautiful girl like you wander alone in this scary world, can I? If I did that, there's no way I could sleep soundly at night!"
"Thank you, Eris!" I stand up, bowing deeply, overwhelmed by her kindness. "Thank you very much!"
"Hey, what are you doing?" Eris chuckles, pulling me back up. "No need for formalities here. We're friends, right?"
"Friend…? YES!" I exclaim, a smile breaking through the uncertainty.
As I nod, the tears that have gathered during our conversation begin to spill over, but they are tears of relief now.
Perhaps, in this vast and strange world, I have indeed found my first true ally.